GOL GUMBAZ IN BIJAPUR

Location : In the Heart of
Bijapur (Northen Part of
Karnataka) Famous For : Islamic Architecture and Adil Shah's MausoleumDistance : 530 kms from
Bangalore, 205 kms
from Belgaum Best Time to Visit : October to March (During Winters) from
Sunrise to Sunset

Gol Gumbaz  The Second Largest Dome in the World

Gol Gumbaz is the most important monument in Bijapur.
Meaning 'the circular dome' the second largest dome in the world, after
the St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, is 124 feet in diameter. This
architectural dome houses the tomb of King Adil Shah and was built in 1656
AD. Legend has it that this monument was built by the orders of Adil Shah
before his death. It was the desire of the ruler to build a mausoleum
comparable to the Ibrahim Rauza, the tomb of his father, Ibrahim Adil Shah
II. An equally distinguished tomb well composite and ornamented worth a
visit. At a distance of 530 kms from Bangalore, this monumental heritage
stands in the heart of the city.

The Magnanimous Structure  Attractions of the 'Whispering Dome'

Gol Gumbaz, the major attraction of Bijapur in Karnataka
stands on a floor area of 1700 sq mts with a height of 51 m and diameter
of 37 m. the walls of the tomb are 3m thick. The most noted highlight of
this monumental heritage is its acoustic feature wherein a sound echoes 11
times over and can be heard at a distance 37 km. The tomb is constructed
on a plain square block with towers on each corner in dark gray basalt,
decorated with plasterwork. Three blind arches are displayed on the
exterior of the monument. The central arch on the other hand is wider than
the others and is dressed with wooden panels with small rectangular
entrance and three rows of arched windows punched through. One can enter
the grandeur from the south door where a stone (Bijli pathar), that claims
to guard the tomb from lighting) is suspended from the cornice. This
cornice is a distinguished part of the tomb that rests on a highly carved
stone.

The dome of the building is carved with elegant petals and the height is
27.4 mts. The corner towers do not harmonize with the dome as they look
more like a Chinese pagoda rather than a minarets. They are divided in
seven floors and is crowned with a hemispheric dome. The architecture of
the monument is essentially Islamic and has all the trademarks of the
traditional Islamic or Persian style of architecture The mausoleum is
actually just a small part of the bigger complex that contains a mosque, a
dharamshala (inn) and other buildings.

Srirangapatnum, Gol Gumbaz Mosque

Reaching the Monumental Heritage  Getting There to Bijapur

This famous monument of Bijapur is located in the heart
of the city. Bijapur is an important city in Karnataka and is well
connected by the major parts of the state as well as the country. At a
distance of 205 km is the nearest airport of Belgaum. One can get to
Bijapur easily as the railway line connecting Solapur in Maharastra and
Hubli passes through the center of the district, via India and Basavan
Bagewadi. Bijapur is well connected to Bangalore, Mumbai (via Solapur),
Hyderabad (via Solapur), Hospet (via Gadag), Vasco da Gama (via Hubli and
Londa). Bijapur railwaystation comes under the administrative control of
HUBLI division of South Central Railway (SCR). Bijapur is connected by road to most places in south and west India.
These are: Aihole (110 km), Badami (138 km), Pattadakal (148 km), Hampi
(220 km), Belgaum (205 km), Bangalore (550 km), Bombay (486 km). The
National highway 13 passes through the district in the eastern and central
parts. Once inside the town, tourists can avail taxis or autos. Another
exhilarating option with be the horse carriage (Tingas).

Top 5 Reasons To Visit Gol Gumbaz

Gol
Gumbaz is the most imposing structure in Bijapur and is the must visit
attractions listed by the Karnataka tourism. The excellent
architecture and the magnanimous size has earned Gol Gumbaz the title
of being 'second largest dome in the world'.

Pay
attention to its Islamic architecture, that also contains a mausoleum
of the ruler King Adil Shah. This structure is also one of the biggest
single chamber structures in the world.

Another
must visit attraction is the Bijli Paththar (meteorite) suspended by a
chain from the cornice. Its is said that this stone had fallen during
the reign of Adil Shah and till today it guides the monument from
lighting.

Climbing
down the staircase below the entrance on the west of the monument, you
can see the real grave of the king, his two wives, his mistress
Rambha, his daughter and his grandson.

Try
your vocal chords by a loud shout inside the monument to hear a echo
that can be heard 11 times even at a distance of 37 km. It is this
acoustic property that has earned it the name of 'whispering dome'.

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